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Syracuse outlasts Georgetown in OT thriller to advance in Big East tourney

Eric Prisbell, USA TODAY Sports
10:42 p.m. EDT March 15, 2013

Georgetown forward Mikael Hopkins (3) is fouled by Syracuse Orange forward Baye Keita (12) in front of forward C.J. Fair (5) during the first half of a semifinal game of the Big East tournament at Madison Square Garden.(Photo: Brad Penner, USA TODAY Sports)

NEW YORK — Whether it was the closing of Manley Field House more than three decades ago or this year's two final regular-season meetings as Big East rivals, these momentous final chapters against Georgetown have never gone well for Jim Boeheim.

But he led his Syracuse team into the semifinals of its final Big East tournament here with renewed hope, one final chance under the spotlight against the Hoyas before the Orange departs for the Atlantic Coast Conference and Georgetown becomes a member of the new Big East. And this time, it would be Boeheim who would officially close this Big East rivalry with a victory, 58-55 in overtime.

In the 14th meeting between the bitter rivals in the iconic Big East tournament, they were tied with 1 minute 47 seconds to play in regulation, with most of Madison Square Garden crowd on its feet applauding and some fans pumping their fists. Both teams are safely in the NCAA tournament field as high seeds, but the ear-splitting noise throughout the arena made clear that this was about something far more long lasting than seeding or postseason hopes.

With Syracuse up two points, the crowd remained standing and roaring throughout a timeout in the final minute of regulation. They watched Georgetown stop Syracuse, grab possession of the ball and secure a chance to tie the game with 20 seconds remaining.

With 7.3 seconds left, Otto Porter was fouled by C.J. Fair near the corner. Porter, the Big East's player of the year, calmly made both free throws, tying the game at 51. Syracuse's Michael Carter-Williams' outside shot was not close, giving fans of both teams an extra five minutes of what has been one of the sport's signature rivalries.

The Orange was the aggressor early in overtime, taking a four-point advantage and fouling out Georgetown guard Markel Starks. Georgetown had a final chance to potentially tie the game with a three-pointer, trailing 58-55 with 14.4 seconds to play, but Syracuse trapped Porter near the corner and the All-American threw the ball away to Syracuse.

For Syracuse, and especially for Boeheim, it was a satisfying final triumph against the Hoyas after some disappointing results that have been etched in history.

Longtime fans of both schools vividly remember when on Feb. 12, 1980, Georgetown got the final word, literally. After the Hoyas beat Syracuse in the final regular-season game at Manley Field House, then-Georgetown coach John Thompson declared, "Manley Field House is officially closed."

The Hoyas also emerged victorious Feb. 23 in the last meeting as Big East foes at the Carrier Dome, where Porter scored 33 of Georgetown's 57 points before 35,012 fans, the largest ever crowd to witness a college basketball game on a school campus.

And most recently, the Hoyas celebrated the last meeting as conference rivals at the Verizon Center on March 9, when they held the Orange to just 39 points.

But the Orange, admittedly looking for revenge, did not squander their last chance against Georgetown before the Big East breakup.

Entering Friday's game, Syracuse's hopes appeared to hinge largely on the outside shooting touch of forward James Southerland, who had made 12 of 15 three-pointers in two Big East tournament games. And he had set a Big East tournament record against Pittsburgh with six three-point makes without a miss.

Against the Hoyas, Southerland missed his first three-pointer from the top of the circle, but he found his stroke minutes later by converting a four-point play. Then Porter stepped in front of a pass by Syracuse guard Brandon Triche and sank a three at the top of the key while being fouled.

After another three-pointer from Southerland on the wing, Syracuse found itself tied with Georgetown at 17 despite a poor offensive showing early in the game.

After Georgetown went to a zone defense for a few minutes, Trevor Cooney buried a three-pointer on the wing to put the Orange up three points. Cooney's three-pointer from the corner then swelled the lead to eight points, stirring the orange-clad fans sprinkled throughout the arena.

Syracuse eventually built a 10-point advantage after Cooney cut underneath to the basket, received a pass from Baye Keita and tossed the ball in. A final defensive stop by Syracuse before halftime forced the Hoyas into a desperation heave from the corner, sending Boeheim into the locker room with his team up nine points.

But for the fans at The Garden, more lasting memories in this rivalry were still to come in an overtime victory both schools won't soon forget.